MAM
AAAI turns 60, chalks year long agenda for diamond jubilee celebrations
MUMBAI: The baby has turned 60 this year. And it seems to grow only younger by the day. Incepted in 1945, the Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI), the apex body of the Indian advertising fraternity, has rolled out an impressive ten point agenda to mark the diamond jubilee celebrations.
AAAI president Srinivasan K Swamy elaborates, “Our Association has served well the cause of advertising and its development in the last 60 years and it is time to review and strengthen the role played by the Association, given the current market dynamics. We are concerned with some of the developments and we are keen to take some corrective action.” He also mentioned that, later in the year, the Association is going to put together a battery of top Agency heads in an attempt to brainstorm critical issues related to the industry and find appropriate solutions to them.
Change is in the air. This reflects in the Association’s overhauled spirits to cultivate a new corporate identity. The drive has kicked off with the Association now sporting a new logo. On the rationale of the new logo Saatchi & Saatchi managing director and CEO V Shantakumar briefs, “We decided to go for a simple yet modern logo that reflects abbreviation of the Association’s name. Drumming up for a common cause has over the years become an important catch phrase, and is relevant to the role which advertising plays. Hence the three ‘A’s are the support on which the ‘drum’ base depends. And the ‘I’ has been turned into the proverbial stick to signal professional empowerment. Together this change of identity and design is evocative of the AAAI’s role in modulating the industry’s cadence, creating resonant reverb across its membership.” The logo has been designed by Elsie Nanji, vice chairman and chief creative officer, Ambience Publicis.
Significantly, there has been a considerable lack of empirical information on the history of advertising in India. Under its year long diamond jubilee programme the Association has planned to release a well researched book which traces the initial days of advertising in India and its progress over the decades.
For a successful implementation of its 10 point programme for the diamond jubilee celebrations this year, the Association has entrusted Ramesh Narayan, past president of AAAI, as the chairman of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Committee. The prominent activities that the programme proposes are:
– AAAI Publications on Business Practices
– Diamond Jubilee Seminars
– International Advertising Convention
– Evolving a new code for Business Practices
– Socially Relevant Campaigns
– Setting up of a National Advertising Centre
Brands
Samsung India elevates Aditya Babbar to lead mobile business
Exec takes charge of MX sales and marketing after Raju Pullan’s exit
NEW DELHI: Samsung India has elevated Aditya Babbar to lead its mobile phone business, following the exit of Raju Antony Pullan.
Babbar, who previously served as vice president within the mobile division, has been appointed head of sales and marketing for the MX (mobile experience) business, effective May 1. In his new role, he will oversee the company’s sales and marketing operations for smartphones and related categories in India, reporting to the executive vice president of the MX business.
A long-time Samsung executive, Babbar brings over a decade of experience within the organisation, having held multiple leadership roles across product, marketing and category management. Most recently, he led product marketing and e-commerce for the mobile division, following earlier stints as head of product and marketing and senior director roles.
His career within Samsung Electronics and its India operations has also included responsibilities for flagship devices, tablets and wearables, giving him a broad view of the company’s premium and mass-market portfolio.
Babbar succeeds Pullan, who stepped down from the role, marking a leadership transition at a time when India remains a key battleground for global smartphone makers.
The appointment signals continuity within Samsung’s leadership bench, with an internal candidate stepping up to steer one of its most critical business units in a highly competitive market.
